Ladder.



v PATENTED JUNE 19, 1906. O. GOPLANTZ.

LADDER.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE5, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W- 4 QM ac ANDREW. B. GRAN-M C9. PMOYOLIIMDGMPMERS. WASHINGION. D. O.

PATENTED JUNE 1 1 0. GOPLANTZ. 906

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED mm; 5, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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this angle to accommodate it to the dimen-r UN TED STATES PATENT onnion.

CYRUS COPLANTZ, OF JOLIEI, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR. OF ONE-HALF TO A. S.CHEESEMAN, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June-5, 1905. Serial No. 263,682.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, Cynics CoPLANTz, a citizen of the United States,residing at J oliet, in the county of Will and State of Illinois, haveinventedcertain new and useful lowing isf-a specification.

My invention is concerned .with a novel extensible ladder having slidingsections and adapted especially for firemens use, and is designed toproduce a ladder of the .class described that shall be capable ofrapidextension to the required height and which shall be so constructed as tomaintain the necessary rigidity and strength in all degrees ofextension.

. To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto two sheets of drawings, inwhich the same reference characters are used to designate identicalparts in all the figures, of which 0 Figure 1 is .a side elevationof'the ladder in its unextended and horizontal position as it rests uponthe truck while it is being transported. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe lower end of the ladder in the same position, but on aslightly-larger scale. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with theladder extended and raised at an .angle,which, how ever, is much lessthan that at which it is ordinarily extended, it being. illustrated inImprovements in Ladders, of which the folsions of the sheet of drawings.Fig. 4 is .an enlarged sectional view on the line A A .of Fig. 3. Fig. 5is a similar view on the line B B of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is an enlarged viewin section on the line C C of Fig. 2.

Where my invention is used .as a firemens ladder which is to betransported rapidly from place to place, I mount it upon a horizontalbase 10, which'may be of any desired construction and which will beprovided with the customary wheels and running-gear, so

as to make a complete truck thereof. In

order to secure an ample base in all directions 1 in case itbecomesnecessary to raise the ladder at an angle to the plane parallel to thelength of the base or truck, I provide it with a i plurality of(preferably four) arms 11,'which 5 are pivoted at the sides of the base10 in the bearings 12, so that they can be folded along side the base,as shown in Fig. 2, while the apparatus is being transported or so thatthey shown dotted lines in Fig. '2, when it'is desired to extend thebase as suggested. In order to support the outer ends of these arms 1construct of the slotted ratchet-bars 13,

which are supported from and operated by the levers 14, which carry thespring-held links or dogs 15, which, cooperating with the teeth of theratchet-bars, enable the outer ends of the arms to be jacked up to anyextent that may be necessary in order to give a firm support to thetruck-base. As shown in Fig. 2, these lifting-jacks and theiroperatinglevers are placed on alternate sides of the ends of the bars,and the truck-base is reeessed, as at 15, in order to enable the arms 11to be folded in'the position shown with-1 out interference. 4

The ladder proper is mounted upon a turn table 16, which preferablyconsists'of a me tallic disk, which is mounted to rotate about thebearing-post 17 .as a center. In order that this table may rotateeasily, 1 preferably mount it upon a plurality of .antifrictionrollers18, (best seen 'in Figs. 1 to 3,) which are journaled in suitablebearings on the truck-base 1 0, so asto support the turmtable thereonand permit its free rotation.

Projecting upward from the turn-table are the pair of standards 19,which are connected by the generally-U shaped piece 20, which has itsends secured upon the horizontal up per portions of the standards 19. Atthe centerv of the u-shaped portion is a crosspiece 21, the U-shapedpiece being supported beneath the cross-piece by the sleeve 22,surrounding the vertical bearing shaft or rod 17 and having its lowerend resting upon the ta- Me 16, being preferably screwed into thenut'upon the upper sides of the U-shaped piece can be extended at rightangles thereto, as

20.. The gear-pinions 27 mi ht 'be provided directly w1th-operating-era=s; but in .order to enable the an le to be changedwith less power and tohol it in any position to which it may be set by the inertia of themechanism I preferably secure to the gear-pinion 27 a gear-wheel 29,which is driven by the gearpinions 30, one of which is secured to eachend of a shaft 31, ournaled in suitable bearings formed adjacent to thebearings for the pintles 28. A crank-handle 32 may be provided for oneor both ends of this shaft, as may be found necessary, and by turningthis shaft it will be seen that the lowermost section, which, as seen inFig. 1, normally rests in a substantially horizontal position upon thecross-piece 33 of the support 34, may be vswung upward to any desiredposition, it

preferably approximating a vertical position when the ladder is in use.

While I do not limit myself to any precise number of sections, Ipreferably employ three sections, of which the lowermost one is, as Ihave said, relatively stationary, while the intermediate section 35 isslidable on the lower section and has the under surfaces of its sidepieces resting directly upon and sliding over the upper surfaces of theside pieces of the lowermost section. The third section 36 is alsoslidable, but is preferably narrower, so that its side pieces are withinand above the side pieces of the intermediate section and are supportedin the manner to be described.

The bottom section has provided at its upper ends the U-shapedbearing-pieces 37, secured thereto, in which are mounted theantifriction-rollers 38, upon which the side pieces of the intermediatesection 35 slides. Secured to the outer sides of the side pieces 25,near their upper ends, are the yoke-shaped pieces 39, which havejournaled therein the antifriction-rollers 40 and 41 at the properheight above the side ieces so that the side pieces of the mid lesection will be free to slide between the upper sides of the side pieces25 and the rollers and 41. The intermediate section 35 is constructed ina somewhat similar manner at its upper end, it bein provided with thetwo shafts or bearing-r0 s 42 and 43, which have journaled thereonimmediately adjacent the side pieces the antifriction-rollers 44 and 45,respectively, upon which the side pieces of the u ermost section 36 areadapted to slide. he side pieces 35 are provided with the yoke-shapedpieces 46,- similar to the yoke-shaped pieces '39, which are providedwith the antifrictionrollers 47 and 48, bearing upon the upper surfacesof the side pieces of the section 36, so that said section will slidefreely between the rollers 44 and 45 on its under side and the rollers47 and 48 on its upper side. The section 35 is provided at its lowerends with the overhanging lugs 49, which prevent any side-' wisemovement of the intermediate section relative to the lower section uponwhich it lugs 49, which are set in flush with the outer edges of thesection and cooperate with the inner edges of the section 35 to preventany angular displacement.

To elevate the upper sections on the lower one, I provide the two pairsof winding-drums 50 and 51, both of which are preferably secured on theshaft 52, journaled in the bearings 53, secured upon the upper surfacesof the lower ends of the side pieces 25. A

ratchet-wheel 54 is also secured upon the shaft 52, and a dog 55 issuitably pivoted on one of the side pieces 25 so as to be in position to006 erate with the ratchet-wheel when desire and prevent the backwardrotation of the shaft 52" and the possible premature descent of thesections. The intermediate section 35 is elevated by means of the pairof ropes 56, which are secured to the ower end of the section 35,conveniently by being fastened to the lowermost rung of the ladder andextending up and over the sheaves 57, which are journaled on a bearin-rod 58 just inside of the side ieces 25 and t ience down to the windingcy inders or drums 50 to which the ends of the ropes are secured. As theshaft 52 is rotated it will be apparent that the winding up of the ropes56 will elevate the intermediate section of the ladder.

The uppermost section 36 is elevated by means of the pair of ropes 59,which are secured at 60 to the lower end of the section 36 andpreferably by being secured to the lowermost rung of that section. Theseropes extend upward over the sheaves 61, which are preferably mounted onthe shaft 43 just inside of the antifriction-rollers 45, and thenceextend downward to the drums 51, to which they are secured. It will beapparent that if the ends of the ropes 59 were secured to somestationary portion of the mechanism the upward movement of the middlesection 35 would elevate the uppermost section at twice the rate ofspeed at which the middle section moves, and by attaching the ends ofthe rope to the drums 51 I am enabled to move the up ermost section at astill greater rate of spec since its rate of speed relative to themiddle section will be represented by twice the diameter of the drums50, plus once the diameter of the drums 51, as against once the diameterof the drums 50 for the speed of the intermediate section. As Ido notdesire to make the speed of the uppermost section four times that of theintermediate section, I reduce the diameter of the drums 51, as shown,to about half of the diameter of the drums 50, thus giving the uppermostsection a speed of three times that of the intermediate section.

While the mechanism thus far described has a certain degree of utility,I am enabled to increase it very materially by providing truss-ropes, sothat the ladder-sections will be braced both from above and below. The

ICC

bracing from above is essential if the ladders are not supported at thetop in order to prevent them from bending over from their own.

weight. The bracing from the under side is likewise essential where theladder is extended and its top is allowed to rest against a wall, inwhich case the bracing overcomes the tendency to sag resulting from theweight of the sections. To secure this necessary bracing effect,Iprovide what may be called rope-trusses, which consist of thetruss-posts 62 and 63, secured to the outer' lower ends to thewinding-drums 69, which are rigidly secured on the shaft 70, journaledin the bearings 71., secured on the upper side of the lowermost sidepieces 25. I may provide the shaft with a squared end 72, as indicated,and operate it independently .of the shaft 52 by a handle, as indicatedin dotted lines at 7 3 in Fig. 2; but I preferably employ a gear-wheel74, secured on the shaft 52, which meshes with a gear-wheel 75, looselymounted upon the shaft 70, but adapted to be secured thereto by means ofthe clutch members 76, splined on the shaft 7 O and adapted to beshifted into and out of engagement with the clutch member 77, formed onthe hub of the gear-wheel 75. The ratio of the gearwheels 74 and 75 andof the drums 50, 51, and 69 is such that as the ropes 56 and 59 arewoundnp, extending the sections, the truss-ropes' '66 and 67 will beunwound, permitting their extension, while at the same time acting astruss-rods to brace the ladder-sections. When the ladder is to belowered, the dog 55 is thrown out of engagement with the ratchet-Wheel54 and the dog 78, pivoted on the side piece 25, is thrown intoengagement with the ratchetwheel 80, secured on the shaft 70, and theshaft 52 is rotated the opposite direction, which will have the effectof unwinding the ropes 56 and 59 and winding up the ropes 66 and 67,thus causing the descent of the ladder. By reason of the employment ofthe clutch members 76 and 77 I am enabled to operate the two sets ofropes independently, if desired, and if the truss-ropes should becomesomewhat loosened they can be tight.

ened up by unclutchi'ng' the shaft 70 and moving it independently of theshaft .52.

In orderto strengthen the lowermost section, I may provide the steeltruss-rod 81 and the truss-post 82 and suitably connect the rods attheir ends in order to form an invert:

ed king-post truss, in the manner clearly shown.

While I havev shown and described my invention as embodied in the formwhich I at present consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, itwill be understood that it is capable of modifications and that I do notdesire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims,except as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters, Patent of theUnited States, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with the basehaving the support at one end and-the turn-table at the other end, ofthe bottom ladder-section pivotally mounted on said base and adapted torest on the support when in a horizontal position, gearing for turningthe lower section on its bearing to any desired extent, an intermediatesection carried by and adapted to slide up on the bottom section, a topsection carried-by and adapted to slide up on the intermediate section,ropes connected to the bottom 'of each of the upper sections and runningover sheaves on the tops of the adjacent lower sections, drums forwinding up said ropes, and a single shaft driving all of said drums uponwhich all the ropes are wound to simultaneously slide both the uppersections up upon their supporting-sections.

2.1 In a'device of the'class described, the

combination with the base having the support at one end and theturn-table at the other end, of the bottom ladder-section pivotallymounted on said base and adapted to rest on the support when in alongitudinal position, a circular rack on said section, a shaft parallelto the pivots of the section, reducing-gearing between the shaft and therack whereby the lower'section can be turned on its bearing to anydesired extent, an intermediate section carried by and adapted to slideup on the bot tom section, a top section carried by and adapted to slideup on the intermediate section, ropes connected to the bottom of each ofthe upper sections and running over sheaves on the tops of the adjacentlower sections, drums for winding up said ropes, and a single shaftdriving all of said drums upon which all the ropes are woundtosimultaneously slide both the upper sections up upon theirsupporting-sections.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with the basehaving the support at one end and the turn-table at the other of thelower sections, lifting-ropes connected to the bottom of each of theupper sections and running over sheaves on the tops of the adjacentlower sections, truss-ropes secured to the tops of the top sections andrunning over the truss-posts, drums for winding up all of said ropes,and a single shaft driving said drums, by which all the ropes are woundsimultaneously to slide both of the upper sections up upon theirsupporting-sections and at the same time pay out the truss-ropes.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with the basehaving the support at one end and the turn-table at the other end, ofthe bottom ladder-section pivotally mounted on said base and adapted torest on the support when in a horizontal position, gearing for turningthe lower section on its bearing to any desired extent, an intermediatesection carried by and adapted to slide up on the bottom section, a topsection carried by and adapted to slide up on the intermediate section,truss-posts projecting from the tops of the lower sections,guiding-sheaves on the truss-posts, lifting-ropes connected to thebottom of each of the upper sections and 11111- ning over sheaves on thetops of the adjacent lower sections, truss-ropes secured to the tops ofthe top sections and running over the sheaves on the truss-posts, drumsfor winding up all of said ropes, and a single shaft driving said drums,by which all the ropes are wound simultaneously to slide both of theupper sections up upon their supporting-sections and at the same timepay out the trussropes.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with the lowerladder-section, of the intermediate section adapted to slide on thelower section, the upper section adapted to slide on the intermediatesection, a winding-drum associated with the lower section, a pair ofropes adapted to be wound thereon and secured to the bottom of theintermediate section, sheaves at the top of the lower section over whichthe ropes run, a second pair of ropes secured to the bottom oftheuppermost section and to the winding-drum, a pair of sheaves at the topof the intermediate section over which the second pair of ropes run, thetruss-posts carried at the tops of the lower and intermediate sections,sheaves carried by said truss-posts, the truss-ropes secured to the topof the uppermost section and extending down over the sheaves on thetruss-posts, drums on which the truss-ropes are wound, and gearingbetween the winding-drums to rotate them in the proper direction and atthe proper rates to alternately payout and wind up said ropes.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with the lowersection, of the intermediate section adapted to slide thereon, theuppermost section adapted to slide on the intermediate section, thewinding-drum journaled adjacent the lower end of thelower section, thelifting-ropes for the intermediate section secured at one end to thewindingdrum and at the other end to the lower endol the intermediatesection, the sheaves at the top of the lower section over which saidropes run, the winding-ropes for the uppermost section secured at oneend to the winding drum and at the other end to the bottom of theuppermost section, the sheaves at the top of the intermediate sectionover which the winding-ropes for the uppermost section run, thetruss-posts carried at the tops of the lowermost and of the intermediatesections, the sheaves carried at the ends of said truss-posts, thetruss-ropes secured at the top end of the uppermost section andextending down over the sheaves on the truss-posts, the windingdrum towhich the truss-ropes are secured, and gearing between the two drums torotate them in the opposite directions and in the proper sequence,substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with the lowersection, of the intermediate section adapted to slide thereon, theuppermost section adapted to slide on the intermediate section, thewinding-drum journaled adjacent the lower end of the lower section andhaving two sections of different diameters, the lifting-ropes for theintermediate section secured at one end to the larger portion of thewinding-drum and at the other end to the lower end of the intermediatesection, the sheaves at the top of the lower section over which saidropes run, the windingropes for the uppermost section secured at one endto the smaller portion of the windingdrum and at the other end to thebottom of the uppermost section, the sheaves at the top of theintermediate section over which the winding-ropes for the uppermostsectionrun, the truss-posts carried at the tops of the lowermost and ofthe intermediate sections, the sheaves carried at the ends of saidtrussposts, the truss-ropes secured at the top end of the uppermostsection and extending down over the sheaves on the truss-posts, thewinding-drum to which the truss-ropes are secured, and gearing betweenthe two drums to rotate them in the opposite directions and in theproper sequence, substantially as de scribed.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with the lowersection, of the intermediate section adapted to slide thereon, theuppermost section adapted to slide on the intermediate section, thewinding-drum journaled adjacent the lower end of the lower section, thelifting-ropes for the intermediate section secured at one end to thewindingdrum and at the other end to the lower end of the intermediatesection, the sheaves at the top of the lower section over which saidropes run, the winding-ropes for the uppermost section secured at oneend to the windcg ging-drum and at the other end to the bottom of theuppermost section, the sheaves at the top of the intermediate sectionover which the winding-ropes for the uppermost section run, thetruss-posts carried at the topsof the salowermost and intermediatesections, the

sheaves carried at the ends of said trussposts, the truss-ropes securedat the top end of the uppermost section, and extending down over thesheaves on the truss-posts, the

Winding-drum to which the truss-ropes are secured, a large gear on thelifting-rope drum,

and a small gear on the truss-ropeidrum with which said large gearmeshes, substantially I 5 as and for the purpose described.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with the lowersection, of the in termediate section adapted to slide thereon, theuppermost section adapted to slide on the intermediate section, thewinding-drum journaled adjacent the lower end of the lower section, thelifting-ropes for the intermediate section secured at one end to thewinding- 7 drum and at the other end to the lower end of 2 5 theintermediate section, the sheaves at the top of the lower section overwhich said ropes run, the winding-ropes for the uppermost sectionsecured at one end to the windingdrum and at the other end to the bottomof 3 the uppermost section, the sheaves at the top of the intermediatesection over which the winding-ropes for the uppermost section run,

the truss-posts carried at the tops of the lowermost and intermediatesections, the

sheaves carried at the ends of said trussposts, the truss-ropes securedat the top end of the uppermost section and extending down over thesheaves on the truss-posts, thewinding-drum to which the truss-ropes arese- 4 cured, a large gear on the liftingrope drum, a

small gear on the truss-rope drum with which said large gear meshes, anda clutch between the gears and the truss-rope-drum shaft so that thetruss-rOpe-drum shaft can be tightened or loosened asdesired,'substantially as and for the urpose described.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with atruck-base, of the extensible ladder mechanism thereon, the turn- 5table upon which it is mounted, the laterally-extensible horizontal barspivoted to the sides of the base, and the adjustable legs carriedby theends of the bars, consisting of the vertical ratchet-bars, the leverspivoted to the ends of the horizontal bars, and the dogs carried by thelevers cooperating with the ratchet-teeth, substantially as described.

' 11. In a device of the class described, the combination with therelatively stationary section carrying the antifriction-rollers at theto ,and the yoke-shaped members carrying t e antifriction-rollers on itsupper side near the top, of the intermediate section adapted to slidebetween the rollerson the 5 lower section, and carrying theantii'rictionintermediate section, and means for extending andwithdrawing the upper sections.

12. In a device of the c ass described, the

combination with the relatively stationary section carrying theantii'riction-rollers at the top, and the yoke-shaped members carryingthe antifriction-rollers on its upper'side near the top, of theintermediate section adapted to slide between the rollers on the lowersection, and carrying the antifriction-rollers near its upper end andthe yoke-shaped members carryin antifriction-rollerson the upper sidenear t e top of the intermediate section, the top section adapted toslide between the antifriction-rollers on the intermediate section, thetrussosts having the sheaves at their ends carrled at the upper ends ofthe lower and intermediate sectlons, the truss-ropes secured to theupper end of the top section and extending down over the sheaves, andmeans for extending and withdrawing the u per sections and at the sametime keepin the truss-ropes taut.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with therelatively stationary section carrying the'antifriction-rollers at thetop, and the yoke-shaped members carrymg theantifriction-rollers on itsupper side near the top, of the intermediate section adapted to slidebetween the rollers on' the lower section, and carrying theantiiriction-rollers near its upper end and the yoke-shaped memberscarrymg antifriction-rollers on the upper side near the top of theintermediate section, the top section adapted to slide between theantiiriction-rollers on the intermediate section, the trusszposts havingthe sheaves at their ends carrie lower andintermediate sections, thetrussropes secured to the upper end of the top section and extendingdown over the sheaves, a winding-drum ournaled adjacent the bottom ofthe lower section, ropes adapted to be wound thereon and assing oversheaves carried at the top of t e lowermost and inter mediate sectionsand adapted tobe secured to the bottoms of the uppermost andintermediate sections, respectively, another winding-drum for thetruss-ropes, and means for rotating said drums.

14. Ina device of the class described, the combination with therelatively stationary section carrying the antifriction-rollers at thetop, and the yoke-shaped members carrying the antifriction-rollers onits upper side near the top, of the intermediate. section adapted toslide between the rollers on the lowersection, and carrying theantifriction-rollers near its upper end and the yoke-shaped memberscarrying antifriction-rollers on the upat the upper ends of the IIO perside near the top of the intermediate secmediate sections, respectively,another wind- 15 tion, the top section adapted to slide between theantifriction-rollers on the intermediate section, thetruss-posts havingthe sheaves at.

their ends carried at the upper ends of the lower and intermediatesections, the trussropes secured to the upper end of the top section andextending down over the sheaves, a

winding-drum journaled adjacent the bottom of the lower section, ropesadapted to be wound thereon and assing over sheaves carried at the topof t e lowermost and intermediate sections and adapted to be secured tothe bottoms of the uppermost and intering-drum for the truss-ropes, andgearing between said drums adapted to rotate them in the oppositedirection and at the propel speed so that as the lifting-ropes are woundup the truss-ropes are extended, and vice versa.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of June,1905.

CYRUS COPLAN TZ.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. MCELROY. M. S. REEDER.

